Improvement in box-nailing machines



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1 Blox-Railing Machines. Y N0,\57,568 Patemednec.a,1a74.

WITNESSS Y Y, INVENTUMq l l w E. lBEAM).` Box-Mailing Machines WITNESSES 5 Sheets--Sheeft 5 Patented Dec. 8,1874.

INYVENTOR UNITED STATES PATENT @Enron EDWIN BEARD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN BOX-MAILING MACHINES.

Specification forming part of LettersPatent No. 157,568., dated December H, 1874; application filed March 16, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, EDWIN BEARD, of Chi-` cago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Box-Nailing Machines, patented by me July 9, 187 2, and numbered 128,698, of which improvements the following is a full, clear, and exact description, which will enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanyin gdrawin gs forming a part hereof, and in which- Figure 1 represents a front elevation of a double box-nailing machine embodying my invention, a part of the frame being broken away to show the treadle and the parts operating in connection with it; Fig. 2 an end View of the same, viewed in the direction indicated by the arrow shown in Fig 1, the feeding attachment, driving-wheel, and clutchblockbeing removed; Fig. 3, a side elevation of one of the clips and dies adapted for a single machine; Fig. 4, a modification in the construction ofthe same; Fig. 5, atop or plan view of the double machine, one of the main parts being cut in the plane of the linea: ccof Fig. 1; Fig. 6, a side elevation of the self-feeding attachment; Fig. 7, atop View of the-same; Fig. 8, a section in the plane of the line xx of Fig. 5, viewed in the direction of the arrow there shown, the machine viewed being all shown; Fig. 9, a section in the plane of the line a: .fr in Fig. .8; Fig. 10, a front view of a single machine; Fig. 11, a side elevation of a double punch and die adapted for a single machine; and Fig. 12, a front view of the double punch and die.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts.

The object of my invention is to make a machine whereby the parts of the same box may be nailed together along their opposite ends, sides, or edges at the same time. I also aim to improve the construction and operation of various parts of the machine, whether the same are employed in double or in single machines, as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawing, A represents a platform or frame, on which the double machine rests. B and B are the frames of the machines which constitute the double machine. The frames B and B ride in grooved ways in the part A,

as `shown at c c in Fig. 2, so that the said frames and their attachments may be readily arranged at a greater or less distance froln 'each other 011 the said platform, and retained in the same straight line. C is the drivingshaft, having bearings in cross-bars in the frames B and B, and in posts on theframe or platform A. D D' is a Mason driving-wheel and clutch device mounted on the shaft C. E

is a forked lever engaging the block D', and" pivoted at its lower end to a cross-bar of the part A. F is a short arm, the lower end of which is also pivoted to a cross-bar of the part A, as shown. F is aconnecting-bar, pivoted, near its lower end, to the arm F, and at its upper end to the lever E. The parts F and F both lie in, or nearly in, the same straight line when the clutch engages the drivingwheel, the joint connecting the parts F and F to each other having a tendency to sink below this line during the re-ongagement referred to, and c is a pin passing'through the lower end ofthe part F and resting in a depression in the part F, for the purpose of resisting this tendency. G is a bent rod provided with a thumb temper-screw, c, as shown. Ihe lower part of the rod G is provided with a pin, c', entering a longitudinal slot in the part F. H is a treadle connected to the rod G. Adownward pressure on the treadle sets the clutch, and a slight upward pressure against the point of the screw c releases it. The parts F and F are thus connected to each other by means of a knuckle-joint, and, when a pressure is exerted in the manner described, they operate together as a toggle, for the purpose set forth. c c are springs attached to a crossbar of the frame B, and to the lever E, for the purpose of rendering the release of the latter more sudden. I I are friction-rollers, loosely mounted on the f shaft C. J J are pinions, keyed in a longitudinal groove in the said shaft. C C are shafts, having bearings in cross-bars in the frames B and B. K K are wheels,'loosely mounted on the shafts C C, and engaged by the pinions J J. J J are pinions, mounted on the shafts C C, and rigidly attached to the wheels K K. L L are vertical racks, engaged by the pinions J J,`

and held to their engagement therewith by means of the rollers I I. When the clutch rubber blocks',

and drivin g-wheel are engaged with each other the racks are carried upward; but when the clutch is free they descend to their original position, their downward movement being limited in the manner hereinafter described. The longitudinal groove c, Fig. 5, in the shaft C admits of the roller I and pinion J in the frame B being moved longitudinally on the said sha-ft as the said frame is moved in the ways a a, the said roller and pinion being carried by the said frame. M M are rods connecting the frames B and B to each other, and retaining them in their position in the ways a a. The rods M M are connected to the frame B, so as to be tightened and loosened thereon, and to the frame B, in the manner hereinafter described. By loosening the rods M M the frame B may be set at a greater or less distance from the frame B, and the movable frarne is held in that position by tigh tening the said rods.

O O are tables, rigidly attached to the tops of the racks L L. P P are gates, riding in vertical ways in the frames B and B. Q Q are cross-bars, resting on springs, preferably supported on rests attached to the frames B and B. B B are stops on the gates, and arranged for contact with the bars Q, Q, so as to limit the downward movement of the gates and prevent too great a jar. S S are projections, extending from the gates in such a manner as to strike the point ofthe screw e as the gates move upward. T T are vertically adjustable pins, attached to the gates and supporting the tables O O. U are blocks, attached to the tables O O. These blocks ride in vertical ways in the gates, and lap the rear face of the latter, thus retaining the racks in their vertical position. The ways in which the blocks U U ride are much longer than the blocks, and the tables may thus be so adjusted that the upward movement of the gates will not begin until th e tables have moved upward a grerter or less distance, as will be hereinafter explained. V V are side pieces, attached to the gates P P. A A are crossbars, resting freely in horizontal grooves in the plates V V. D D are dies or nail-holders, resting on the bars A A. The bars A A are beveled, and the bar A passes through a dovetail groove in the dies D, and the bar A through like grooves in the dies D. E E are cross-bars. resting freely in horizontal slots in the framesB and B. F F are screws, 4passingvfreely through the bars E E, and through threaded perforations in the bars E E. G G are beveled gear-wheels, rigidly attached to the outer ends of the screws F F. H H are shafts, resting in bearings attached to the frames B and B. I I are beveled gear-wheels,vcarried by the shafts H H, and engaging the wheels G G. J J are counter-weighted cranks, attached to the shafts H H. K K are screw-pins, passing freely through the bars E E, and .through a threaded perforation in the bars E E', and are shouldered on each side of the former bars,

as shown in Fig. 5. The bars E and E may be set at a greater or less distance apart from each other by means of the pins K K. They may also be drawn either forward or backward in the slots in which they rest, by turning the cranks J J for that purpose. L and L are clips, attached to the bars E and E respectively, and so as to be adjustable longitudinally along the said bars. M M are punches depending from the clips, and arranged to enter the dies when the latter are carried upward in the manner hereinafter described. N N are spindles or connectingrods, attached to the dies and passing freely through the clips. By this means the dies may be carried either forward or backward, according to the direction in which the cranks J J are turned. The dies D D may also be set in one line, and the dies D D in another, by means of the pins K K. The dies are also longitudinally adjustable on the bars which support them. O O', Figs. S and 9, are slides, resting in vertical ways in the frame B. p p are cam-grooves or slots, arranged vertically in the slides O O. P P are slides, resting in horizontal ways in the frame B. p p are pins, extending from the slides P P into the slots p p. The rods M M enter a slot or pocket in the slides P P; and Q Q are springs, preferably rubber blocks, arranged on the rods M M. These blocks are retained upon the rods by means of a small nut run upon the end of each rod, and the blocks rest against the slides P l, as shown. B R are rods, connecting the slides O O to the gate in the frame B. The cams p p are so formed that their inclined parts, during the upward movement of the gate, will reach the pins p p, and draw the frame B slightly toward the frame B just before the nails enter the box. The motion lost by the yielding of the blocks Q Q should be very slight. If the frames B v and B are arranged at such a distance apart from each other that a box may be readily inserted between the said frames, andarranged on the tables 0 O, the forward movement of the frame B will crowd the box firmly between the frames while the nails are being.; driven. Vhen the clutch is released all the parts return to their original position automatically. S is a self-feeding attachment to the clips. T T are parallel plates snfliciently apart from each other to receive the body of a nail, the nail heilig' suspended between them by the contact of its head with the upper edges of the plates. The ripper edges of the plates descend suliciently as they approach the clips, to cause the nail to move toward the latter. U U are spring-jaws, which arrest the passage ofthe nails toward the clips. V is a lever, and V is a standard, to which it is pivoted. c is a V-shaped plate attached to one end of the lever V, and resting between the jaws U U. fv is the heel of the lever. This heel is arranged to be struck by the rods N N a little before the upward movement of the latter ceases, it being un lames 'e Vderstoodthat a selffeeding attachment is' ap! plied toeach clip.` When the'heel is thus struck the plate o moves downward, separati ing the jaws U U', which then release the nail adjacent to them. By the time this nail is released the-plate c has descended sufficiently,` to stop the movement of the next succeeding nail. When the lever is released the jaws 4close and return it to its original position, and rthe passage of the nails is again obstructed by the jaws. o c are screws, by means of which the distance between the plates T vT may be adjusted to nails of different sizes. These `screws are similar in their construction and `operation tothe screws K K.

clined wings, attached tothe plates T T for `the purpose of receiving the nails promiscu- B B are inously and conducting them to the channel between the said plates. C is an inclined plate, also attached tothe plates T T for the purpose of conducting away the nails which do not fall into the said channel. Df is a tube, into which the nails pass as fast `as they are released by the jaws U U', and they arc therebyconducted into the dies, and there held in .a position to be driven, the dies being yield- .in g to admit of the passage of the nails through them when the machine is set in operation.

Instead of employing a self-feeder, the nails may be arranged in the dies by an attendant. In order to nail together the parts of a box by means of the double machine, the frame B is irst so adjusted that the parts to be nailed together may be readily arranged on the tables 0 O, leaving' as small a space as may be convenient between the parts of the box and the frames. The number of clips and dies should correspond to the number of nails to be driven at the same time, or during each upward movement of the tables. The clips and dies should then be arranged at suitable distances apart from each other, and in a line corresponding to the line in which the nails are to be driven into the box. If a double line of nails is to be driven into the same end or edge of the box, each alternate clip and die should be moved forward, by means of the screws K K', in the manner described. ,The

dies are struck by the ascending parts of the box, and the gates P P are thus carried upward. Other parts, however, may be arranged to be struck by the parts of the box, so that the gates Will be thereby carried upward. The plates V V, for example, may be so arranged; but I deem it preferable to arrange the dies so that they will be struck for the purpose set forth7 and to arrange the plates V V so that they will be struck by the parts of the box in case the dies yield, thus .preventing the dies from receiving too great a strain. The tables should also be so adjusted vertically that the parts of the box may be conveniently arranged between them and the dies, additional room being also left for the insertion, without a special adjustment, of the opsite side piece of the box after the tirst side is nailed. The point of the screw c is also so set asi to be struck bythe projectionsS` S as soon las the nails are sufciently driven, thus stopping the upward movement of the tables at the proper time by releasing'the clutch. Two ends, sides, or edges are thus nailed simultaneously; and, by turning the box over and arranging the parts in their proper position, the remaining parts'may be nailed together in like manner. If the breadth ofthe box is not equal to its depth the vertical adjustment of the tables is made to correspond to the greater dimensions. When the boxes are longer than they are deep a special adjustment ofthe frame B must be made in order to nail the bottom to the sides; but, with the exceptions now recited, the operation of the machine is automatic, it being understood that it is set in motion by depressing the treadle. Y

It will be perceived from the foregoing description that the machines which constitute the double machine are so adjustable that they maybe adapted to boxes of differentsizes.

Each of these machines may be used alone by being connected with driving mechanism operating substantially as described, and, when so used, the grooved platform. and the other parts employed for the purpose of adjusting them with relation to each other are not essential.

In using the machines separately one endl or edge ot' the` box will be nailed by each upward movement of the table, and the latter should be sufciently broad to irinly support the parts of the box. When a single machine is used I deem it preferable to arrange the driving-wheel, clutch, and treadle in front of the machine and below the table, as shown in Fig. l0.

The construction of the clip and die is fully shown in Figs. 3, 4, ll, and l2, wherein c e represent the yielding grooved jaws, dies, or nail-holders arranged in a case constructed to receive them, one side of this case being represented as removed in Figs. 3 and 4. 6' e are springs exerting a pressure against the parts e e. e* e4 are projections along the upper and lower ends of the parts e e for the purpose of retaining the said parts in their case, the said projections riding on the upper and lower edges of the case, respectively.

The springs shown in Fig. 3 are spiral springs, but the form of springs shown in Fig. 4 may be employed in lieu thereof. e3 is a removable brace employed in connection with the 'form of spring shown in Fig. 4, and in usingthe form of spring there shown the projections e4 c4 should project sufficiently to retain the springs in the case, as shown.

In Figs. ll and l2 a double die and punch is shown in connection with a clip. It will be observed that one of the vpunches is seta little forward of the other. The double die consists of a duplication of the single die, the groove or opening in each die being arranged to receive the punch corresponding to it. The double dies and punches are intended for the purpose of admitting of a double line of nails being driven along the same end or edge of the box without a special adjustment of the dies for that purpose. By this means the nails may also be driven along the center of the edges of parts differing from each other in thickness, without a special adj ustment for that purpose. These results, however, may be accomplished by adjusting'the dies in the manner described.

In the construction of clips and dies shown in Figs. 3, 4, 11, and l2, the clips are intended to be supported on a single bar occupying the position of the bars E' E", and the dies by a single bar occupying the position of the bars A' A", and for that purpose the single bars pass through the slots c" and c', respectively. As the single machines are designed to operate upon smaller boxes than are to be nailed by the double machine, and, consequently, upon lighterlumber, a double row of nails along the saine end or edge of the box will seldom be required, but when required the double clips and dies will under ordinary circumstances be sufficient for that purpose.

The means employed for the purpose of adjusting the dies in a double row along the same end or edge of a box in the double machine is not essential in a single machine, and the latter is, therefore, provided with dies, clips, and punches constructed in the .manner shown in Figs. 3, 4, ll, and l2. The clips and their attachments are removable from the machines, and those employed in connection with the double machine are constructed like those shown in Figs. 3 and 4, excepting that the latter are made to rest on single bars, while the former rest on double bars, and are adapted thereto in the manner shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A double box-nailing machine, consisting of two simultaneously-operating machines, arranged substantially as described with relation to each other, for the purpose of operating together along the ends or sides of the parts of the same boX, one ofthe said machines being adjustable with relation to the other for the purpose of thereby nailing together boxes of different sizes.

2. A box-nailing machine, consisting of two simultaneously-operatin g machines connected to each other by means of the rods or bars M M adjustably attached to one of the machines, and operating in connection with cams in the other, substantially as described, for the purpose of thereby rendering the machines adjustable with relation to each other, and tightening the gripe of the machines upon the parts of the box during the operation of nailing.

3. A box-nailing machine, provided with two or more box-supporting tables horizontally adjustable with relation to each other, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. A box-nailing machine provided with dies or nail-holders, and corresponding punches or drivers, arranged, substantially as described, with relation to one or more edges of the box, one or more of the said dies and punches being horizontally adjustable in a line at or nearly at right angles to the line or lines occupied by other like parts, substantially as and for the purposes speciied.

5. The combination of the table O, rack L, pinion J', vertically-adjustable pin T, and the gate P, provided with projections arranged for contact with the parts of the box during the upward movement of the table, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

6. The combination of the clip-supporters E' and E" resting freely in horizontal grooves in the frame, clips L' L", dies D" D', bars A' A" resting freely in horizontal ways in the gate P, and pins K' K', substantially as and for the purposes specified.

7. The combination of the screws F' F', Wheels Gr' G', horizontally-sliding clip-supports E' E", crank-shaft H', and wheels I' I', substantially as and for the purposes specified.

8. The combina-tion of the bars A' A", gate P, dies or nail-holders D" D', supports E' E", clips L' L", and spindles N' N', substantially as and for the purposes specified.

9. The rod G, connected to the clutch-operating mechanism, and provided with the vertically-adjustable temper-screw e, in combination with the gate P, provided with a stop, arranged to strike the point of the said screw during the upward movement of the gate, substantially as and for the purpose speciiied.

l0. The clips provided with one or more punches, in combination with the spindles passing freely through the clips, and provided with one or more dies or nailholders arranged rigidly attached thereto, and to receive the punch or punches, substantially as and for the purposes specitied.

l1. The combination and arrangement of the shafts C and C', friction-wheel I, pinion I, wheel K, pinion J', and vertically-adjustable rack L, provided with the table O, all substantially as and for the purposes specified.

12. The selffeeding attachment provided with the yielding jaws U U', in combination with the lever V', provided with the V-shaped stop e, substantially as specified.

EDWIN BEARD.

Witnesses:

F. F. WARNER, N. C. GRIDLEY, F. H. IIERRING.- 

